Spring structure



.Aug 21, 1945. V N. c. GOLDEG 25,382,990

SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l -4- 7 .j f ,2 J/ 11 j! L@ :f5

Hullllmm mm INVENTKOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT @OFFICE i, i "passasse SPRING STRUCTURE Nathan C.`.Goldberg, New York, NuY. Applieatinrebruary 14, 1942, serial No. 430,913

is to provide a spring structureof the aforementioned typeor kind which is sturdy in construction and durable in use andin which :the coil springs are so assembled and held in proper spaced relation as to secure thetoptimum amount of exibility and yieldability.`

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spring structure `of the aforementioned ture shown AinFigs. 1, 2` and 3 consistsessentially` of a seriesoi upright coil springs I0 `(showndiagrammatically in 1) arranged in spaced longitudinal parallelrows throughout an area surrounded by a frame comprising a'` rigid upper frame piece II and arigid lower framepiece I2 spaced apart' ventically. I'helower `frame piece I2 is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel rigid `longitudinal frame' bars' I3 having their |opposite ends welded or otherwise suitably "secured to the adjacent ends of said frame piece.` Each of the rigid members I3 serves to support one of the `pa'rallelrovvs `o`co`il springs II! and for effecting such support `each member I3 is provided at spaced intervals along its length'with' pairs of openings I4, each pair being adapted for type and character, in which the numerous coil With the above and other objects View the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement oi parts hereinafter described` and yillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

threading the lowerfconvolution of one of the coil springs I I) therethrough, thus affording a firm and simple for eachI coil spring.` "The marginal coil springs of the series ofsprings have their upper convolutionfs securely anchored" to `theupper frame piece I" Ias by the studs I5, along lthe'htwo sides' and the `two ends ofthe frame.'

`In,referring'Ito the membersgII, I2 and I3 as rigid, it is `intended to indicate thatthey are substantially rigidor relatively rigid as1 cornparedwith the spring elements contained within the outline, of the entire spring structure.

In the accompanying drawings which form l an integral part of this specification;

Fig. l is a top plan View of a fragmentary` por- .tion of a spring structure in which the present invention has been embodied; I. Y

Fig. 2is a top planview `of an enlarged scale of a fragmentary portion ofthe spring structure shown in Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional `View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is atop plan ,View` of a fragmentary por-.- tion of a spring structure in which a modified form of the present invention has been embodied;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View on an `enlarged scale of a fragmentary portion of a springV structure in which a still further modified form of -rthe present invention has been embodied@V4 Referring now to the drawings `wherein like referenceicharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the severalrviews, the spring .struc- In accordance vviththe present invention there is provided a" plurality, of sets of; parallell cables, designatedgenlerally bythe letter C, which "extend longitudinallybetween the rows of coil springs in parallelrelationthereto. `lilachof the sets `of cables iscomposed of several sections in tandem, preferablyin the form of V`groupsof elongated stranded wire loops I6 which are connected in alignment by` helical springs, Il, the loops and springs together forming a yieldable and extensi- I ble cable structure. Although any" desired ,num-f ber of aligned groups o'fcable loops may be ernployed to `constitute one set oi cables, two oriour groups `of loops are considered most suitable to carry into effect. thevpurposes of the present iri-4 ventio'rn` Whenjthecable is Lcomposei` of two groups of loops the vconnecting helical ysprings I'I are located `at the midpoint of thecable, and when four groups of loopsconstitute nthe cable two additional groups of helical springs are pref# erably, located towardsthe ends of the cable.

The end loops of .the cables are shown in Figs. l to 4 as anchored directly .to the `adjacent ends of the upper frame I I as by. the studs I8. j `It may be desirablahowever, to effect theanchorage by .means of intervening tension spr-ingsj` `not shown.4 f

In order to tie the cable sets C to the coil springsI Ill, there is provided in accordance with the present invention, a plurality or system of connecting devices shown as consisting of successive portions of flat metal bands I9 which extend transversely between the columns of coil springs at an angle to the rows, preferably at right angles, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Each of the bands .is v,provided with a series of Y such portions or connecting means, for example, by struck tongues or. offsets 20, shown in Fig. 2, vwhich form pendentlyl yieldable transverse sections, thereby providing a spring structure of an even greater extent of adaptibility and yieldability.

Other advantages of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

sets of parallel passages at spaced intervals along v the length of the band, each set of passages a`t' the nodes or connector points of the severaliban'ds i' being adapted to receive a set of c able lengths o r loops I6, each of which is threaded or traverses cables yto the coillsprings. Instead oftheinitary band structure provided in the foregoing embodiment of my invention, ,each .of the @transverse connecting meansconsists ofgseveral .iiatjmetal band sections f227wlf1ich .are .connected incm'utual y alignment by helical .springs 23, forming'therewith a yieldablegand extensible bandstructure extending .at right angles to .alli-of the.v parallel setsof cables. -Each .of the bandsectins prei.- erably spans severalgroups of fparallelcable.loops i6 and, as in the case of the .connecting devices described with vreference-.to 1,'each Yof .the band sections isprovided ,at its .connecting Vor nodal -portions with offsets or[tongues `2ll.,which formsets of parallel passages -adapted''for receiving. and accommodating the ,-strandsofthe cable 4In the modied iormlo'f,springstructure'shown in Fig. ,5, the .construction lis similar to vltlfiat of the :spring structure shown i-nFigs'. 1.2 'and 3,

with .or-without 'the .mod'incationof Fig. '4. .but

insteadfof thesets `of cables() being ,extended clear to theerds of .the upper'framepiece 1I 'I. and anchored thereto -by the stu'ds -.I.`8Las ,shown in Figs. 1 to 4, thecables terminate fat the'oute'rinost or marginalbands 'I9 and .are retained ytlfiereat by the retaining .clips or l'offsets 2D around .which the ends of' the cables are looped. 'Q

-From theforegoing .description of the several embodiments of .my invention itgwillbe observed that .by .the provision, between 'Qtherows of coil springs, .of longitudinal cableseftsjeach composed of several sectionscon-nected in algiientby resilient springs, the vspring structure as a whole is divided into .several- `.longitiidinal sectionsor panels each of whichwill Ifyiel'dlto' th'eloadplaced .l

thereon without .unduly tensioning and straining any other section. This'is fa'decided advantage over former Sprngstifctures in .that .a .person lying longitudinally `on one' 'side .orportion of a bed in which the .'springstructure ofthe present l invention is usedmay shift without causing discomfort to a person; lying on ther fportionlof .the same bed. Itfwillalso .be served "that by the provision of'thefseotional 'bands transversely of the longitudinal roW'sof springs. the

structure is further divided into several inde# Each band is yieldably' con- :of said frame.

For example, it may be found to be desirable to connect the sections of the successive sets of cables which extend across the upper frame from end .to en'dvby incorporating yieldable .connections orhelicals extending substantially in a line transversely of the cables. and which line is approximately midway of the opposite longitudinal sides Hence the invention is not restricted except as defined in the appended claims.

' I lola/imi 1. Aspring structure of the character described comprising in combination, a system of upright coil'sprin'gs arranged in longitudinal parallel rows, relativelyrigid upper and lower frame pieces surrounding said system of coil springs, the klower of .said frame 'pieces having means for supporting the Qc'il springs, and the 'tops of the coil springs adjacentl to V'the upper frame piece, 'being anchored lthe'et'o, 'a plurality'of se'ts of longitudinal cables extending between said rows of coil springs inparallel relation/thereto, each of said cable sets'corriprising separate parallel cables vand leach set being subdivided into a plurality of sections in` spaced alinement, with tension springs interconnecting the spaced adjacent ends ofs'uch sections, a lplurality of connecting devices each compris'lng a metalv element formed with a plurality .f of parallel passages accommodating therein the separate 'cables of a set of said cables, and tension means for yieldably connecting each of said connecting devices Arespectively to the tops of all ofthe adjacent coil springs, the outermost of the connecting devices nearest the opposite ends of the upper frame piece having the outermost ends ofthe .cable sets secured thereto, thereby vallowingrel'atively yield'able up Yor down movement of said outermost cable set 'ends and connecting devices. v

K2. A spring structure of the kind described having surrounding under and upper frame members and a system of upright coil springs arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns, with underneath support from the under frame member, and the outermost coil springs endwise and sidewis'e having their tops -laterally anchored to the upper frame member, lin combination with a series of grouped sets of parallel cables extending longitudinally .between the coil spring rows `but terminating short of the Aframe ends, `and a series of parallellmetal bands extending transversely between the'coil spring columns and crossing such 'cable-setsbut terminating short of the frame sides, successive length portions of `each such band being formed with'a'set 'of passages in which the separate cables ofeach set are engaged, the

ends of each cable-set lbeing secured to the two outermost of such longitudinal bands, and tension springs extending from such vsuccessive band portions to the tops of the adjacent coil springs thereby to tie the transverse bands and the longitudinal cable-sets to the coil spring tops.

'5. A spring structure as in claim Zand wherein each cable set `is sectional, with its sections in tandem alignment andinter'connected 'by tension springs. 4. A spring structure of the character described comprising in combination, a system of upright `coil springs' Iarranged -in longitudinal parallel rows, relatit'IeIy'rigicl'uppervand lower frame'iieces surrounding said system of coil springs, the lower of said frame pieces having means for supporting yparallel relation thereto, each of said cable sets ycomprising separate parallel cables, a plurality of connecting devices each comprising a metal element' formed with a plurality of parallel passages accommodating therein the separate cables of a set of said cables, and tension means for yield- .ably connecting each of said connecting devices respectively to the tops 0f all of the adjacent coil springs, the outermost of the connecting devices nearest the opposite ends of the upper frame piece having the outermost ends of the cable sets secured thereto, thereby allowing relatively yieldable up or down movement of said outermost cable set ends and connecting devices.`

5. A spring structure of the kind described having surrounding under and upper frame members and a system of upright coil springs arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns, with underneath support from the under frame member, and the outermost coil springs endwise and sidewise having their tops laterally anchored to theupperfrarne member, in combination with .a series of grouped sets of parallel cables extending longitudinally between the coil spring rows in parallel relation thereto, and each cable set being subdivided into a plurality of sections in spaced alinement, with tension springs interconnecting the Vspaced adjacent ends of such sections, and a series` of parallel metal bands ex- 

